The Line of Thought in Gal. 2. 14b–21

Abstract

Twenty-five years have now passed since R. Bultmann published his brief but stimulating study ‘Zur Auslegung von Galater 2, 15–18’ in the Ernst WolfFestschrift.According to Bultmannv.17abis neither a rhetorical question nor an objection deriving from Paul's opponents; rather, it is an absurdity formulated by Paul himself and designed to function ‘in seiner gegen den Standpunkt des Petrus gerichteten Argumentation’. This absurdity would then be rejected by means of the μή γένοıτο ofv. 17c. In Bultmann's opinionv.17abis a conditional period contrary to fact; the illative particle άρα is to be preferred to the interrogative άρα. The expression χρıστς άμαρτιαςδıάκονος may be paraphrased as follows: Christ is a minister ‘derer, die (immer noch, wie bisher) in ihren Sünden stecken; er hat sie nicht von der Sünde befreit’. It is to such an absurd conclusion, affirms Paul, that the opponents' goal of re-establishing the abrogated Law must lead. These and further aspects of Bultmann's article have been dealt with – critically in some instances – by several authors and so there is no need for us to discuss them again here.

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